Magelight

Ezell (Minds of Men) delivers romantic wish-fulfilment against a high fantasy backdrop in this fun coming-of-age saga. Young Aelys of Brionne, heir to a leading family of her matriarchal Empire, wants to join the Imperial Battlemage Corps; complete a mystical bond with her lover, Halik, so he can become her Ageon, a protector bound to her through mental and sexual energy; and serve her Empire. Unfortunately, her lack of faith in herself makes her fail constantly in her magical Bellatrix training. When she does finally graduate, she’s devastated to learn that Halik has bonded with her best friend, Myara, instead. Aelys then flees from the training academy, falls off her horse, and is rescued from bandits by three hunky non-noble heroes—Romik, a warrior; Daen, once an Imperial Forester; and Vik, an accomplished thief. The men have bound themselves by an oath of brotherhood, and, all smitten with Aelys, they choose to bond to her as well as her Ageons. Ezell maintains the ménage à quatre tension through Aelys’s ensuing monstrous adventures and political maneuvering, and sets things up for at least one sequel. Readers seeking a rip-roaring reverse harem fantasy will want to check this out. (May)